Angul, Apr 11: The annual festival of Maa Hingula kickstarted amid devotion and gaiety at Talcher in Agul district today.

Over a lakh of devotees witnessed the festival on the first day. The festival will be celebrated for nine days.

The local administration made special arrangements to ensure a smooth festival. Drinking water points have been installed at strategic points, and water supply has been ensured 24X7. Ambulances have been kept ready to transport sunstroke and other patients, if any, to hospitals.

To give relief to revellers from scorching heat conditions, water was sprinkled on them. This year, lakhs of devotees from the state and outside are likely to gather as the administration has given a green signal to the festival and assembling of devotees.

Police personnel have been deployed in and around the temple. Two Additional SPs, three Deputy SPs, two Inspectors, 23 Sub-Inspectors, 14 Assistant Sub-Inspectors, eight Head Constables, 87 Constables, four Traffic Constables and 19 Sectional Force have been deployed for security purposes.

The MCL has repaired the high-mast lights in the temple premises and illuminated the entire area. Various voluntary organisations have made arrangements for distribution of drinking water, sarbat, watermelon, Pana etc. to the devotees. A rest house has been built on the site. CCTV cameras have been installed in and around the temple to monitor the crowd.